Envelop-fastener.



G. W. BOBLIT. ENVELOP PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1914.

1,123,983 Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

improvements in means for fastening en-.

GEORGE W. BOBLIT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ENVELOP-FASTENER.

To all 1071. am it may concern 7 Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. BoBLI'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful velops and more particularly to metallic fastening means for sealing the flap to the body portion thereof.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an envelop fastener of the character described for securely fastening or sealing the envelop so that it cannot be opened and its contents tampered with without cutting the envelop and without mutilating the seal to such an extent that the factoof such tampering will be indicated.

Another important object is to provide a fastener of the character described that is of an extremely simple construction, is re liable and efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out as claimed.

lVith reference to the drawings, wherein l have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an envelop showing my improved fastener applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely through Fig.1 on line 2-2 thereof, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, Fig. l is a detail plan view of the tongue carried locking element, Fig. 5 is a plan View of the blank of which the body carried fastening element is formed, and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the body carried fastening element showing the sealing flap carried element inserted therein and in front elevation or top plan.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numerall designates as an entirety an envelop of the ordinary construction, provided with the ordinary seal ing flap 2.'

Secured upon the outer face of the sealing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed June 17, 1914. Serial No. 845,659.

flap adjacent to the apex portion thereof is the sealing flap. carried fastening element designated 3 as an entirety that consists of a circular body portion 4 upon opposite sides of which are formed locking tongues 5 and (3 that are formed integral with the body, arranged in pairs and pointed so as to be readily inserted through the flap and bent over as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The body portion 4: is provided centrally with a protuberance or raised circular portion 7 to provide a gripping surface. Formed inte' grally with the body portion l and extending outwardly therefrom between the pair of tongues 6 is a locking tongue 8 that is rounded at its outer end and adjacent to said rounded end provided with an opening or slot 9 which centrally of the longitudinal edges of the tongue and for a purpose to be later more fully described. 'The sealing flap carried fastening member 3 is secured upon the flap in such manner that the tongue portion is extended beyond the flap in position to be engaged by the body carried locking member 3 to be later more fully described. The prongs 5 and 6 serve to securely hold the member 3 to the flap 2.

Carried on the outer face of the body portion of the envelop at a point so that it may cooperate with-the member 3 is a bodycarried fastening member designated 10 as an entirety that consists of a rectangular base plate 11. Longitudinally and right angularly extending flanges 12 are formed on the longitudinal edges of the body plate 11 and are in turn provided at their free longitudinal edges with inwardly and right angularly extending flanges 13. It will thus be seen that. a casing structure is provided through the medium of the plate 11 and flanges l2 and 13 to receive the tongue 8 carried by the flap member 3. Formed in- 'tegrally with the lower edge of the body plate 11 is a reduced tongue 14 that is bent back so as to be disposed in spaced parallel.

relation to the body plate 11. The tongue 14 is pointed at its end and longer than the body plate 11. The pointed free end of the tongue 14. is inserted through the body portion of the envelop and bent over to lie upon the inner face of the body as at 15 and as clearly shown in Fig. 2 in the drawings.

Securing prongs 16 are formed on the lower edges of the envelop body portion 11 and are inserted through the body and bent over as at 17 to secure the member 3 securely to the envelop. A depresision 18 is formed in the central part of the body portion 11 and is for a purpose as will be later more fully described. The tongue 141s cut away asdat 19 substantially equi-distant of its en s.

To look the fastener the locking tongue 8 is inserted through the space between the body plate 11 and tongue 14 and the tongue 20 is inserted through the opening 9 in the free end of the tongue 8 to hold the tongue 8 against Withdrawal relative to the body plate 11 and tongue 14. The depression 18 formed in the body plate 11 allows for the angular disposition of the bent end of the tongue 20 and the insertion thereof through the opening 9. The flap carried member 3 may be secured to the flap as described prior to the locking action above set out. After the tongue 8 has been looked as described thetongue 14; is bent over as at 15 after being inserted through the envelop and the prong 16 also inserted through andbent over as at 17. This securely attaches the body carried element. The flanges 12 and 13 on the body plate 11 securely hold the tongue 8 inposition and act as guides when inserting the tongue. It Will be readily seen that to open an envelop sealed With my improved fastening means it is necessary to cut or mutilate the envelop to such extent that the fact that someone has made surreptitious attempts to gain access to the interior of the'envelop Will be indicated.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated, in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as a the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to,'when required, Without sacrificing any of the advantages ofmy invention, as set forth.

What is claimed is An envelop fastener comprising two memhere one carried by the sealing flap of an envelop and the other carried by the body portion of an envelop, said flap carried member consisting of a body having bendable pointed securing prongs thereon, 'a tongue formed integral With, the body and extending therefrom to cooperate-With the body carried member, said tongue having an opening adjacent to its free end, the body carried member consisting of a plate, a tongue formed on the lower end of the vplate and being bent back in spaced parallel relation to the plate, an angularly disposed tongue formed intermediate the ends of said last named tongue, said first named tongue adapted to extend between the body plate, and second named tongue, said last named tongue adapted to extend through the opening in the first named tongue, bendable prongs carried by the lowerend of the body plate'adapted to be inserted through the body of the envelop and bent into secured position, said second named tongue bein pointed and inserted through the body of the envelop and being bent to engage the inner face of the body, guide flanges carried 

